The nominees list spans the broad spectrum of the arts - from visual arts projects, like the Joburg Art Fair and the Shangaan-themed Dungamanzi ‘Stirring Water' project, to theatre, music and social awareness initiatives such as ABSA's ‘Addicted To Life' drugs awareness campaign.
Also nominated are a number of daring and, at times controversial, business and arts partnerships; among these are Standard Bank's provocative Marlene Dumas' ‘Intimate Relations' exhibition and the Grand Daddy Hotel's Airstream Penthouse Park.
“We're absolutely thrilled at the nominations list which reflects just how effectively business and the arts can come together in a way that benefits both - along with South African society as a whole,” says BASA CEO Michelle Constant.
Constant's sentiments are echoed by Business Day Brand Manager, Anda Peter: “This is not a one-size-fits-all landscape but one where different businesses can flex their financial and creative muscles in a variety of ways to help ensure the livelihoods of our arts community, and give ordinary South Africans the opportunity to enjoy the cultural expressions of our richly diverse nation”.
“As an ongoing supporter of the arts, Anglo American is proud to be one of the lead sponsors of the BASA Awards, which we believe represents a shared vision to encourage mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between corporate South Africa and arts and culture,” says Premilla Hamid, Head of Public Affairs for Anglo American. “As the partner of choice, and the largest corporate social investor in the country, we understand the power that cultural sponsorship has in connecting the larger community to the arts, whilst supporting local artists in the process.”
Leading the charge in the nominations list are several projects that have earned two nominations each: among them the Keiskamma Art Project, which is sponsored by Murray & Roberts LTD. Based in Hamburg in the Eastern Cape, this platform for emerging and established female artists and crafters is also responsible for creating the artworks that will be presented to the winners for this respected awards event.
Among the nominees are several of South Africa's bigger corporates including MTN, whose 15th Annual MTN South African Music Awards has earned them a nomination in the Single Project category. Sanlam has also received a nomination in the Strategic Sponsorship category for its annual SA Fashion Week, while Old Mutual's Encounters series of concerts is also in the running for the same award.
Unlike the other 11 categories which have three finalists each (aside from International Sponsorship which has two), the Barloworld ARTWORKS Mentor of the Year Award (launched in 2005 with the support of Barloworld) has five finalists. The hotly contested category recognises business volunteers who work directly with arts organisations, sharing skills and expertise to address challenges specific to that arts organisation.
Nominees were selected by a prestigious panel of judges - CEO of the Constitution Hill Trust, Dr Ivan May; Loerie Awards MD, Andrew Human; playwright and director Welcome Msomi; co-founder and head of Vega School of Advertising, Gordon Cook; theatre and dance writer/journalist Adrienne Sichel; business entrepreneur, South Africa's former High Commissioner to London and currently executive chairperson of Peotona Holdings, Cheryl Carolus; and, Mastrantonio Holdings CEO Giovanni Mariano.
The judging process was audited by Grant Thornton Johannesburg.
The 12th Annual Business Day BASA Awards, supported by Anglo American, will take place on 31 August at an invite-only event to be held at the forum | turbine hall in Newtown, Johannesburg. Winners in 12 categories will be announced, along with the Chairman's Premier Award - which is made at the discretion of the Chairman of BASA recognising sustained and extraordinary commitment to the arts in South Africa.
For a full list of nominees in the 12th Annual Business Day BASA Awards, supported by Anglo American, see below (nominees/finalists in alphabetical order).
Full notes on each of the categories, including nominee/project profiles, are available on request.
Finalist 1: ABSA
Project: Addicted to Life
Finalist 2: Grand Daddy Hotel
Project: Airstream Penthouse Park
Finalist 3: Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)
Project: Mobile Exhibition
Finalist 1: Arup (PTY) LTD
Project: Dungamanzi ‘Stirring Water'
Finalist 2: Murray & Roberts Ltd
Project: Keiskamma Art Project through Murray & Roberts Women's Art Project
Finalist 3: Rainbow Chicken Ltd
Project: Catelina Theatre
Finalist 1: Exclusive Books Reading Trust
Project: Ndodeni Family Library Project
Finalist 2: First National Bank
Project: Joburg Art Fair
Finalist 3: Golden Arrow Bus Services
Project: Cape Africa Platform's Arts Awareness Programme
Finalist 1: Standard Bank
Project: Marlene Dumas' ‘Intimate Relations'
Finalist 2: Zamexpo
Project: artSPACE durban
Finalist 1: Deutsche Bank Africa Foundation
Project: Little Artists
Finalist 2: Sandton Business Improvement District
Project: Sandton Central Arts Programme
Finalist 3: Standard Bank
Project: National Schools Festivals
Finalist 1: Desklink Media
Project: National Arts Festival
Finalist 2: Fine Music Radio
Project: Fine Music Radio Cape Diary
Finalist 3: The Times
Project: The Times' Art Page
Finalist 1: First National Bank
Project: Joburg Art Fair
Finalist 2: MTN
Project: South African Music Awards
Finalist 3: Murray & Roberts Limited
Project: Keiskamma Art Project through Murray & Roberts Women's Art Project
Finalist 1: Buz Publicity
Project: Trevor Huddleson Centre
Finalist 2: The Drum Café Events
Project: Mzantsi Traditional Orchestra
Finalist 3: Symfony Digital Solutions
Project: Chew Magazine
Finalist 1: Eurocape Holdings
Project: Out The Box Festival (UNIMA SA)
Finalist 2: HCI Foundation
Project: The Baxter Theatre Centre
Finalist 3: Vukile Property Fund (Ltd)
Project: National Eisteddfod Academy
Finalist 1: Old Mutual
Project: Encounters (Oppikoppi Productions)
Finalist 2: Sandton Business Improvement District
Project: Sandton Central Arts Programme
Finalist 3: Sanlam
Project: SA Fashion Week
Finalist 1: ABSA
Project: Addicted to Life
Finalist 2: Standard Bank
Project: National Schools Festivals
Finalist 3: Webber Wentzel
Project: Young Artist Competition
Finalist 1: Gary Ninow for Umcebo Trust
Finalist 2: Gregory David Wallis for Ifa Lethu Foundation
Finalist 3: Ilka Dunne for National Eisteddfod Academy
Finalist 4: Patrick Seager for VANSA Western Cape
Finalist 5: Yvette Nowell for Valued Citizens Initiative
The Barloworld ARTWORKS Mentor of the Year Award - launched in 2005 with the support of Barloworld, the award is for business volunteers working directly with arts organisations, sharing skills and expertise to address challenges specific to that arts organisation.
The Chairman's Premier Award is made at the discretion of the Chairman of BASA, and recognises sustained and extraordinary commitment to the arts in South Africa.
